Hugh Cholmondeley (soldier) facts for kids
Sir Hugh Cholmondeley (born 1513, died 1596) was an important English soldier. He lived a long time ago, during the rule of famous kings and queens like King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I.
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Sir Hugh Cholmondeley's Life
Sir Hugh was born into a powerful family. His family, the Cholmondeleys, had been important in Cheshire since the Norman conquest. This means they had been leaders in their area for hundreds of years!
Sir Hugh was the second son of Richard Cholmondeley. When his older brother passed away in 1539, Hugh became the head of the family.
A Soldier for England
Sir Hugh was a brave soldier. In 1542, he fought against the Scots. For his courage in battle, King Henry VIII made him a knight. This was a great honor!
Later, in 1557, he showed his loyalty again. He gathered 100 men and paid for them himself. They joined the Earl of Derby to fight against a Scottish army that was trying to invade England.
A Leader in Cheshire
Besides being a soldier, Sir Hugh also held many important jobs in his home county of Cheshire. He was like a top official or manager for the county.
- He was the High Sheriff of Cheshire six times between 1547 and 1588. A High Sheriff was in charge of keeping the peace and making sure laws were followed.
- He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Cheshire in 1569, 1585, and 1587. This role meant he helped the main leader of the county.
- From 1579 until he died, he was the Custos Rotulorum of Cheshire. This person was responsible for keeping all the county's important records.
- He also served as the High Sheriff of Flintshire from 1582 to 1583.
Sir Hugh Cholmondeley's Family
Sir Hugh Cholmondeley married Ann Dorman. She was an heiress, meaning she inherited a lot of land and wealth from her family in Malpas.
Sir Hugh passed away in January 1596. He was buried in Malpas, the hometown of his wife.
His Son, Sir Hugh the Younger
Sir Hugh was followed by his son, also named Sir Hugh Cholmondeley. His son was born in 1552 and died in 1601.
- Sir Hugh the younger was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Cheshire in 1585.
- He was also made a knight in 1588.
- He served as the High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1589, just like his father.
Sir Hugh the younger married a woman named Mary Holford. They had a large family with five sons and three daughters.
- Their oldest son, Robert, became a very important person. He was given the special title of Earl of Leinster in 1646.
- Another son, Hugh, was an ancestor of the Marquesses of Cholmondeley. This means future generations from him became Marquesses.
- Yet another son, Thomas, was an ancestor of the Barons Delamere.
- One of their daughters, Lettice Cholmondeley, married Sir Richard Grosvenor, 1st Baronet.
Sir Hugh the younger's wife, Lady Mary Cholmondeley, became well-known for her legal fight. She went to court against her uncle, George Holford, to make sure she received her rightful family inheritance.
